Vault-heater



A. G. STAP-EL. VAULT HEATER.

Patented Nov. .24, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. G. STAPEL. VAULT HEATER..

No. 463,926. Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

NTE@ STATES ADOLF G. STAPEL, OF VALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

vAULT-HEATER. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,926, dated November24, 1891.

Application filed August 25, 1891. Serial No. 4:03,'7l0. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLii` G. STAPEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Valhalla, in the county of Oconee and State of SouthOarolina,have invented a new and useful Vault-Heater, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to vault-heaters, and is designed to be used inconnection with any of the existing dry-closet systems and to be locatedat one end of the vault, where excrements are dropping on a platform;and it has for its object to provide avault-heater in which the fire andthe direction of the currents of heat therefrom are under perfectcontrol for either passing the heat directly over and upon theexcrements or beneath the same, and thus to provide a heater which hasfor its main object the drying out of the excrements in a very shortspace of time, and thus rendering them capable of being readilyconsumed, and also by its construction to provide means whereby theaccumulations of matter may be readily and easily scraped into the fireof the heater, where they will burn green or dry, as desired; and withthese objects in view the invention consists in arevolving grateand hoodlocated in a direct line with the ordinary brick platforms of thedry-closet systems and so arranged as to direct the courses of heatinthe manner above set forth, and which is provided with special detailsof construction and operation hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically1 pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of avault-heating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, the grate and hoodbeing in position to direct the heat beneath the eX- crement-iioor. Fig.3 is a similar view, the position of the hood and grate being reversedto direct the flame over the floor. Fig. 4t is a detail in perspectiveof the revolving hood and grate, one end thereof being removed toillustrate the interior construction thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates the front or faceplate of the vault furnace or heater, and is constructed of suitablematerial and is located and supported in the ordinary manner at one endof the ordinary dry-closet vault. otherwise secured to the inner face orback of said face-plate and extending inwardly are the side parallelframe-pieces d, between the outer endsof which is secured the transverseplate or platform a', bolted or otherwise secured to said side piecesand is designed to be on a level with the brick platform in thecloset-vault when the heater is set in position at the end thereof. Asemicircular hood B is j ournaled upon the pivots l) in the sideframepieces a intermediatelybetween the inner end of said transverseplate or platform and the back of the front or face plate A. Integrallyformed with said hood or supplem'entally secured thereto and revolvingtherewith is the sector O, forming the basket-grate or fire-box, withinwhich the fire is placed, as will be presently described. The saidsector or basketgrate forms, with the semicircular hood of which itforms a continuation, three-quarters of acomplete circle and is providedwith awall or plate c, inclosing the free side thereof, by

means of which the tire is inclosed within the` grate, and which alsoserves asa platform when the position of the hood and grate is reversed,by means of which the eXcrements can be scraped thereover and into theiire within the heater. A rod D projects through the front face-plate Aand terminates in an operatinghandle d, while its inner end pivotallyconnects with one side, forming the semieircular hood, and by means ofwhich connection by operating the rod the whole device may be turned atwill in one position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where the freeend of the hood snugly abuts against the inner end of said transverseplate or platform, and the Suitably bolted or wall or plate c of thebasket-grate being in a IOO on a level with both the platform of thevault and that of the heater, and thus the hood, or, at least, theopening therein, is in a direct line to throw the heat across and overthe top of the matter upon the vault-floor or platform, while at thesame time the device is in a position which allows the matter to bescraped within the heater and consumed by the lire therein. The saidsector or lire-box C is provided with a dumping pan or grate c of theordinary construction, and which is eccentrically journaled upon thepivots c2 near one end thereof and in the sides of said fire-box orsector adjacent to the inclosing wall or plate, while the opposite endsof the grate or ends of the grate-bars forming the same extend aroundand follow the curve of the hood and fire-box and take behind the end ofthe top of the hood, and thus is prevented from dumping, and is alwayssecurely and firmly held in its normal position, forming a continuationof the periphery of the hood, inasmuch as being eccentrically pivotedwithin the lirebox its own weight normally closes the same, and when theengaging end of the grate is pushed in to allow the ashes oraccumulations to be dumped from the opposite end adjacent to the pointof pivot when released the grate will readily fall back, as can beeasily seen.

The inner side or top of the hood facing the front plate A is providedwith an opening E, which is designed for the reception of the fuel tokindle the lire within the grate, and is closed and unclosed, whendesired, by means of the curved sliding cover F, that is adapted to workand slide within the opposite guides or cleats f, located on either sideof said opening and secured upon the top of said hood. When it isdesired to place the fire within the grate, the said slide is thrownback to uncover the opening in the hood, and access is had to theinterior of the heater through the swinging door G, hinged to the frontfaceplate A and inclosing the opening formed therein.

Above the door G in the front face-plate is horizontally hinged theair-door H, which incloses an opening in said front plate, and which maybe thrown open and held in its open position by means of the hook 72secured to the free edge thereof, engaging the eye h', secured in thefacing of the heater above said door, and besides allowing a freecirculation of air, when it is desired, over the brick platform uponwhich excrement falls it also provides means whereby the green or drymatter may be scraped with a suitable article into the revolving heaterlocated back of said faceplate. A similar door I, similarly hinged andprovided with a hook t', adapted to engage the supporting-eye t', islocated beneath the central lire-door G referred to, and is designed toinclose the opening through which the dumping-grate may be operated andthe ashes and accumulation may be removed.

'lhe construction and operation of my improved vault-heater is nowthought to be apparent without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vault-heater, a frame, a revolving grate and hood journaled insaid frame, and means for operating said revolving hood and grate,substantially as set forth.

2. In a vault-heater, a frame, a hood journaled in said frame, abasket-grate secured to one end of said hood and forming a continuationthereof, and means for operating said hood and grate, substantially asset forth.

In a vault-heater, a front plate, side frame-pieces secured to the innerface thereof, a transverse plate orplatform secured between the outerends of said side pieces, a revolving grate and hood jonrnaled in saidside pieces between said platform and front plate, and means forrevolving said hood and grate, substantially as set forth.

et. In a vault-heater, a front plate, side frame-pieces secured to theinner face thereof, a transverse platform secured between said sidepieces, a semieircular hood jonrnaled in said side pieces, a sectorIlire-box secured to or projecting from one end of said hood and providedwith an inclosing wall or plate and a dumping-grate in the bottomthereof, and an operating-rod pivoted to one side of said hood andprojectingthrongh said front plate, substantially as set forth.

5. In a vault-heater, a frame, a transverse plate or platform, asemicircular hood journaled in said frame and provided with an openinglocated at one end in the top thereof, guides or side cleats secured tothe top of the hood on either side'of said opening and a curved slidingcover working within said cleats, a sector fire-box secured to orproject` ing from one end of said hood and provided with an inclosingwall or plate and a grate eccentrically pivoted within the bottom of thesame, and an operating-rod pivoted to one side of said hood andprojecting through the frame, substantially as set forth.

G. In a vault-heater, a front plate provided with inclosed fuel, ash,and air openings, side frame-pieces secured to the inner face thereof, atransverse platform secured between the outer ends of said side pieces,a semicircular hood journaled in said side pieces, a sector fire-box andgrate secured to or projecting from one end of said hood and forming acontinuation of said hood, a sliding cover inclosing a fuel-opening insaid hood, and an operating-rod pivoted to one side of said hood andprojecting through said front plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLF G. STAIEL.

Witnesses:

J. C. MICKLER, HENRY G. REED.

IOO

